I was thinking of starting talking about all the negative tones and images we think of when we hear the word poverty.  So my thesis idea is something like “When I hear the word poverty I don’t think of sadness or despair because I know all of that can be overshadowed by the positive simplicity that creates happiness and joy”.  I know this isn't quite a full thesis and it is missing a lot so if you have any ideas on where I can improve it that would be great!

I will use narrative by talking about my trip to Kenya and the attitudes of the people who lived in the “slums”.  Some of my points to highlight the positive look on poverty I was thinking about covering were how poverty allows us to focus on the important things like family and friends, how it allows us to be more grateful for all we have, and how it gives us less of a distraction in life so we can focus and admire the world around us.

 I was thinking of also being persuasive to prove that it is crucial for us as individuals and a society to take a step back from everything we are wrapped up in and notice all that surround us like you would have to do if you lived in poverty.  I have a lot of pictures from Kenya to visually represent what I am trying to prove.  The TED talk that I chose to listen to talked about vulnerability and one of the quotes in it said something like “vulnerability was the birthplace of true joy and happiness”.  I think it would be cool to tie this into my talk. 

In conclusion I was thinking maybe relating it to other hard situations that we are facing.  To look at the issue simply and to focus on the good that can come out of it or the good around you.  I could connect this to the positive characteristics that develop from living in poverty. 

I feel like it's kinda mixed up and like I am straying away from my main point so any feedback and suggestions would help a lot!